Exam 4: Tubular Exchange Mechanics 167 - 190 Flashcards
What is the primary function of the nephron after the glomerulus?
Reabsorption of glomerular filtrate
What is suggestive of where most of the reabsorption work is done in the nephron?
Flow rate of glomerular filtrate through the nephron
What part of the nephron does the bulk of the reabsorption work?
Proximal convoluted tubule
What percentage of water reabsorption occurs in the proximal convoluted tubule?
70%
How does the kidney handle the processing of nutritionally important substances such as glucose and amino acids?
Very well - almost absorbed to complete
How does the kidney handles processeing ions and electrolytes such as sodium, chloride and bicarbonate?
Well, although variably. Can be absorbed to near completion but not as well as glucose and amino acids
How does the kidney handle processing metabolic end-products such as urea, creatine, phosphates and sulfates?
Poorly, they are usually not well recovered by kidney filtration
What is the basic method of tubular exchange for glucose (and galactose)?
Secondary active transport using a cotransporter and facilitated diffusion with GLUT2 transporter protein
Does glucose transport, as seen in tubular exchange, require energy? If so, why and in what form?
Yes. It requires ATP to drive the Na+/K+ exchange pump that allows to cotransport of Na+ and glucose from the PCT lumen
Glucose transport in tubular exchange requires energy and uses secondary active transport. What other molecules are transported in essentially the same way?
- other simple sugars
- carbohydrates (after being broken down to simple sugars)
- amino acids
- proteins (after being broken down to amino acids)
Total glucose absorption is a function of what?
The number of transporters which is a function of surface area
I.e. # of nephrons, # of microvilli, length and convolution of tubules will all affect surface ares
Is glucose absorption in the kidneys efficient?
Yes, normally it is so efficient that it is absorbed to completion
What is the definition of tubular transport maximum for glucose?
The total glucose that can be absorbed and it represent an estimate of the number of functioning nephrons
What is the average tubular transport maximum for glucose?
~ 350 mg/min (±50mg/min)
NOTE: this means that the tubule can absorb 350mg of glucose per minute
What is the definition of the renal threshold of glucose?
The point at which tubular transport cannot keep up with glomerular filtration rate and glucose might appear in the urine
What is the theoretical value of the renal threshold for glucose?
~ 300mg / 100 ml of plasma
Although actual threshold (when glucose appears in the urine) is 180-200 mg/dL
NOTE the formula used: Renal threshold = Tubular transport maximum for glucose (~300-400mg/ml) / glomerular filtration rate (125 ml/min
Do the kidneys normally regulate blood glucose?
No
What is glucosuria?
Glucose in the urine
What is the basic method of tubular exchange for simple sugars other than glucose (and galactose)?
Still secondary active transport, however it utilizes specific transporters to each kind of sugar
What is the basic method of tubular exchange for carbohydrates?
The same as simple sugars (secondary active transport with specific transporters) but only after being broken down by surface amylase in the PCT
What is the basic method of tubular exchange for amino acids?
Secondary active (ATP!) transport with cotransporter and transport protein specific to each amino acid
What is the basic method of tubular exchange for peptides?
The same as amino acid (secondary active transport with specific transporters) but only after being broken down by surface peptidases in the PCT
What is the average dietary intake of sodium?
~ 8-15 grams/day
The amount recovered in the nephron directly matches the amount of salt (NaCl) intake until there is excess and then excretion rises
What is the basic method of tubular exchange for sodium (and chloride)?
primary and secondary active transport
- linked to cotransport of sugars and amino acids
- chloride generally follows sodium to balance charges
What percentage of sodium resorption occurs in the PCT?
~65%
What percentage of sodium resorption occurs in the ascending limb of the loop of Henle?
~25%
What percentage of sodium resorption occurs in the DCT?
~5%
What percentage of sodium resorption occurs in the collecting duct?
~5%
Resorption of sodium can be controlled indirectly by:
Body osmolality (partly under control of aldosterone)
What would increased aldosterone do to sodium resorption in the nephrons?
It would increase sodium resorption
- the hormone operates on the distal tubule by altering the number of Na+/K+ exchange pumps and their activity
What would decreased aldosterone do to sodium resorption in the nephrons?
It would decreased sodium resorption
- the hormone operates on the distal tubule by altering the number of Na+/K+ exchange pumps and their activity
Regulation of sodium by aldosterone is considered a:
Distal nephron function, because the hormone operates on the distal tubule by altering the number of Na+/K+ exchange pumps and their activity
How does increased sodium concentration in filtrate passing through the distal tubule (and macula densa cells) affect aldosterone secretion?
Decrease aldosterone secretion
↑ Na+ stimulates neighboring JG cells
(Which communicate with macula densa cells) to ↓ secretion of renin (and angiotensin)→ ↓ aldosterone secretion → ↓ Na+ resorption → more excretion of Na+
How does decreased sodium concentration in filtrate passing through the distal tubule (and macula densa cells) affect aldosterone secretion?
Increases aldosterone secretion
↓ Na+ stimulates neighboring JG cells (which communicate with macula densa cells) to ↑ secretion of renin (and angiotensin) → ↑ aldosterone secretion→ ↑ Na+ resorption → less excretion of Na+
Changing Na+ intake will alter water retention due to:
Osmosis
Are the kidneys the prime regulator of the body sodium (and therefore chloride) content? Why or why not?
Yes, because the vast majority of NaCl that is lost by the body is by way of urine